Carol Elaine Fritz (nee Steffen)

Carol Elaine Fritz (nee Steffen)

March 10, 1936 – October 5, 2025

Carol was born and raised in Milwaukee and lived her entire 89 years in the city. She was a graduate of North Division High School in Milwaukee, attending her class’s 50th high school reunion with her best and lifelong friend Shirley Weyandt. As she told it, she and Shirley were “best friends from 9th grade”, even having their first babies (both girls) just days apart.

In the mid 1950’s she met our father Wayne and they married. The marriage ended in divorce, leaving my mom to raise her young family on her own. One thing that we witnessed during this time was our mother’s unwavering love and dedication to us. She made certain we had a roof over our heads, food on the table and that we knew she loved us. Life was not easy, but we were all together and that’s what mattered.

Our mom loved her grandkids. Summers spent with grandma still bring happy and funny memories. She will be remembered by them for pats on the head, hearing “I love you,” and her special dishes… Campbell’s tomato soup, pot pies, and pizza rolls.

Elvis Presley was her man…she was a die-hard Elvis fan, making the trip to Graceland and her bedroom was a shrine to the King himself. Country music was also a favorite with one song becoming almost an anthem, Jeanie C. Riley’s “Harper Valley PTA.” As kids we heard her play it repeatedly. During her last two days we played it for her as well as some old Elvis tunes and hopefully she heard them.

She loved Pistachio cake, something she had on every birthday, orange slices (the candy), State Fair taffy, strawberry shakes, coffee, and my Uncle Don’s pasties and scalloped potatoes (that we tried to replicate for her). Cats were her favorite pet and she rarely was without one.

Something she loved to do was talk on the phone and she was someone who called you just to make sure you were ok, see how everyone was doing or just to say ‘Hi’ right up until she couldn’t anymore.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Sr. and Mary Steffen, her brothers, Warren, Walter and Donald, lifelong friend, Shirley Weyandt and many other relatives and friends.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Lori (Steven) Morell, Donna (John) O’Malley, Diane (Randy) Walker, Gail (Jim) Wolfgram and Mary Fritz. Also left to cherish her memory are her grandchildren: Kelly (Paul Kosanke) Wagner, Beth (John) Sawant, Tammy (Dan) Wilcox, Jenni (Adam Kosinski) O’Malley, Dawn Jackson, Tommy Jackson, John (Christina) Jackson, Bryan (Scott Zietlow) Warner, Leah (Brian) Kochamba, Brandon Eversmann and Brent Eversmann, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.

We love her. We miss her. And we can’t imagine life without her. Rest easy mom.

Private memorial to be held at a later date.